Leaf vegetables of Mizoram

Citation: 
Singh B K, Verma V K and Ramakrishna Y. 2014. Leaf vegetables of Mizoram. In: Climate Resilient Crops for the Future (Peter K V Ed.). NIPA, New Delhi, pp 383-404.
Email: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in
 
Mizoram, 23^rd state of India, is located between 21º58’ to 23º35’ N latitude and 92º15’ to 93º29’ E longitude which is surrounded by Tripura, Assam and Manipur in north frontier regions; Bangladesh in west; and Mayanmar in east and south. The undulated topography of Mizoram, known as Lushai hills during British period, has varied altitudes ranging from 21 to 2157 m above the mean sea level, annual rainfall of 2000-3200 mm, and mean monthly temperature of summer (monsoon) ranges from 14.6 ºC to 29.6 ºC. Besides having good rainfall; the vegetable production, including leaf vegetables, during winter period is limited by acute soil moisture stress caused by high rate of evapo-transpiration, almost no rain from November-March, non-availability of irrigation water and low water holding capacity of the sloppy land (Singh et al. 2011; Singh et al. 2013b). The terrain of Lushai hills is characterized by inaccessibility, marginality, fragility, ethnicity, rich bio-diversity and low crop productivity in general. The agricultural land in Mizoram is comprised of about 90% sloppy upland and 10% low land of valley (Singh et al. 2013a). The crops those potential are neither harnessed genetically nor grown commercially are commonly termed as underexploited crops. Most of them have remained either wild or semi-domesticated, and are traded and consumed locally. North-eastern states of India, including Mizoram, are one of the hot spots of plant biodiversity and therefore, considered as one of the richest reservoirs of genetic variability and diversity of various vegetable crops, herbs and spices (Yadav et al. 2009; Singh et al. 2013c). Leaf vegetables; also known as leafy greens, vegetable greens, salad greens, greens, salads or potherbs; are succulent plant leaves, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots, used as vegetable or for garnishing and flavouring of various food items. Usually, leaf vegetables are edible herbaceous, viny, shrubby or tree in growth habit; and are eaten with staples as main course or as supplementary food either in cooked, semi-cooked or raw form. These leafy greens are typically high in dietary fibre, minerals, proteins, vitamins, antioxidants, nutraceuticals and pigments; low in calories and fat; possess some medicinal values; and generate employment opportunities that is eventually options for “prosperity for the poor and health for all” by providing food, nutrition and income security.

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Allium fistulosum (Welsh onion): Spicing the cuisines of Mizo tribes

Allium fistulosum (Welsh onion): Spicing the cuisines of Mizo tribes.

Singh BK, Singh SB, Ramakrishna Y and Thapa M

Allium and Umbelliferae Improvement Newsletter 22: 33-35, 2012

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.): A commonly used, neglected spicing-culinary herb of Mizoram, India.

Spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.): A commonly used, neglected spicing-culinary herb of Mizoram, India.

Singh BK, Ramakrishna Y and Ngachan SV

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 61 (6): 1085-1090, 2014, DOI 10.1007/s10722-014-0130-5.

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Spiny coriander (Eryngium foetidum L.) is a leafy spice herb of tropical regions of world (America, South Asia, Pacific Islands, South Europe and Africa) which is used extensively for garnishing, marinating, flavouring and seasoning of foods. It is also used as an ethno-medicinal plant for the treatment of a number of ailments such as fevers, chills, vomiting, burns, fevers, hypertension, headache, earache, stomachache, asthma, arthritis, snake bites, scorpion stings, diarrhea, malaria and epilepsy. The main constituent of essential oil of the plant is eryngial (E-2-dodecenal). However, a significant variation in the plant morphology, composition of essential oil (> 60 constituents reported) and secondary metabolites resulted from genetic variability and geographic location. Pharmacological investigations have demonstrated anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-clastogenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic and anti-bacterial activity. Focus on holistic research approaches such as genetic enhancement to develop high yielding varieties (collection, conservation, evaluation, breeding and development of potential genotypes); efficient production technologies to harvest the plants in mass (cultivation under 50-75% shed-net and spray of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 100 ppm); post-harvest management to minimize marketing loss; and medicinal/ pharmaceutical investigations would be the best strategies to increase the yield and to promote industrial uses of Eryngium foetidum as an economically relevant crop.

Genotypic × environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and quality components in elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst) Nicolson].

Genotypic × environment interaction and stability analysis for yield and quality components in elephant foot yam [Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst) Nicolson].

Kumar S, Singh PK, Solankey SS and Singh BK

African Journal of Agricultural Research 9 (7): 707-712, 2014

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Genotypic × environment (G × E) interactions in 35 indigenous line of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius Dennst Nicolson) were evaluated for two consecutive years of 2007 and 2008 under four environments in randomized block design (RBD) for yield, plant height, weight of corm, size of corm, dry matter and starch content. Mean squares deviation due to environment and environment linear variations were highly significant for all the traits. Linear component of genotype × environment interaction assumed importance for weight of corm, size of corm and yield. Thus, the prediction of the genotypes in the environments appeared to be feasible for all the characters under study. G × E interaction was found to be significant for dry matter and starch content indicating that these quality contributing traits were highly influenced by the change in environment leading to extension of analysis for estimating stability parameters. All traits significantly observed for environment + (genotype × environment) interaction confirming the influence of environment and suggesting the existence of considerable variation among genotypes as well as environments. On the basis of all three stability parameters (xi, bi and S2di), the genotype NDA-9 possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. With respect to yield on the basis of all three adaptability parameters, it is evident that the genotype NDA-9 is stable as it possesses high mean, nearer to unit regression and non-significant low deviation from regression. Whereas the highest yielding genotype NDA-35 showed above average sensitivity and low deviation from regression, this genotype could be considered as a suitable for favorable environmental condition.

Genotype by environment interactions effects on yield and curcumin in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.).

Genotype by environment interactions effects on yield and curcumin in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.).

Anandaraj M, Prasath D, Kandiannan K, Zachariah T J, Srinivasan V, Jha A K, Singh BK, Singh AK, Pandey VP, Singh SP, Shoba N, Jana JC, Kumar KR, Maheswari KU

Industrial Crops and Products 53: 358-364, 2014

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

Eleven cultivars were evaluated for fresh yield (10 environments), curing per cent, cucumin and dry yield (five environments) across India, four each in North and South India and two in North East India, ranging from 43 to 893 m above mean sea level. Combined analyses showed significant differences among cultivars, environments, and cultivar by environment interactions for yield, curing per cent and curcumin contents. A large proportion (70.8%) of variation on fresh yield was attributed to environments; however, for curing per cent, curcumin content and dry yield, genotype effect accounted for 31.2%, 17.7% and 15.7%of variation, respectively. Mega Turmeric was the most stable for fresh yield with above average yield per plant across all environments. Rajendra Sonia was performing well at specific locations as the fresh yield was high and was highly responsive to favorable environments. Results on curcumin and curing per cent showed that, IISR Kedaram performed consistently across five environments with regression values almost equal to one and non-significant deviation from regression was adjudged to be the most stable cultivar for curcumin production. High curcumin cultivar Narendra Tumeric-1 was least responsive at environments with regression values less than one and significant deviation from regression. Mega Turmeric-1, IISR Prathiba and IISR Kedaram showed high stability for dry yield across environments. Three varieties, Mega Turmeric-1, IISR Kedaram and IISR Prathiba could serve as a good genetic source for stability in breeding programs for high dry yield and curcumin content.

Genetic variability, heritability and interrelationships in pole-type French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Genetic variability, heritability and interrelationships in pole-type French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Singh BK, Deka BC and Ramakrishna Y

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences 84 (3): 587–592,
 2014, DOI 10.1007/s40011-013-0287-2

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), especially pole-type, is one of the most widely cultivated and popular vegetables in Mizoram due to its wide adaptability, round the year availability and better tender pod quality (slender, fleshy, soft and fewer parchment strings). However, there is little information on genetic variability, heritability and interrelationships of economic traits in pole-type French bean. Therefore, sixty-five genotypes (Indian and exotic collections) were evaluated. A significant genotypic mean square for the traits studied indicated sufficient variation among genotypes. Ten genotypes showed better pod yield potential (>13.5 t/ ha) which were collected from Mizoram (IC593590, IC593591, IC593594, MZFB-48, IC595238, MZFB-32, IC593593, MZFB-29, MZFB-51 and MZFB-47). Vine length, inter-nodal length, no. of nodules/ plant, nodule fresh weight, tender pod fresh weight, 100 seeds weight and pod yield showed additive gene action i.e. high heritability (> 80%) and high genetic advance (> 40%) which could be improved by selection and hybridization. While non-additive genes were responsible for days to 50% maturity (earliness) that could be exploited through heterosis breeding. However, both additive and non-additive genes accountable for pod length, no. of seeds/ pod and no. of pods/ plant and could be improve through reciprocal recurrent selection. Pod weight and number of pods/ plant could be reliable tools for selection indices to identify the productive genotypes and to realize maximum genetic gain. Viewing the genetic potential, it is convincing to include genotypes from Mizoram regions in the genetic enhancement as well as varietal improvement of French bean for tender pod yield.

Vermicompost, mulching and irrigation level on growth, yield and TSS of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Vermicompost, mulching and irrigation level on growth, yield and TSS of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Singh BK, Pathak KA, Ramakrishna Y, Verma VK and Deka BC

Indian Journal of Hill Farming 26 (2): 105-110, 2013

E-mail: bksinghkushinagar@yahoo.co.in

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years to investigate the effect of vermicompost, organic mulching and irrigation level on growth, yield and quality attributes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) with an ultimate aim of optimizing water and nutrient requirement of tomato in mild-tropical climate during dry season. The vermicompost together with organic mulching increased plant height (106.5 cm), leaf area (40.6 cm2), leaf weight (1301 mg/ leaf), fruit weight (92.9 g), fruit yield (4.013 kg/ plant), fruit density (0.972 g/ cc), post-harvest shelf-life (15.0 days) and TSS (5.2º Brix) of tomato significantly. Application of vermicompost alone too increased the shelf-life of fruits by 25-106 % and TSS beyond 4.5 %, both of which are traits highly desirable for production of summer tomato and the related processing industry. The application of vermicompost @ 5 tonnes/ ha, 5 cm thick mulching with dried crop residues, two-thirds dose of NPK fertilizer (80:40:40 kg/ ha) and 30 % irrigation is optimum for obtaining better quality and productivity of field grown tomatoes during dry period of mild-tropical climate.